Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has called on his players to deal with their frustrations in a better way.
Reds boss wants players to deal with frustration better
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has called on his players to deal with their frustrations in a better way.
The Reds' miserable run of form continued with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday and to add to Liverpool's problems Pepe Reina was sent off for violent conduct and Andy Carroll reacted angrily to being substituted late on in his first return to his former club.
Carroll endured a miserable return to the club he left in a £35million deal 14 months ago, receiving a regular chorus of boos from his former fans, getting booked for diving and then having to watch his successor in the number nine shirt, Papiss Cisse, score twice.
When being substituted, Carroll appeared to aim a string of expletives at the Liverpool bench before heading straight down the tunnel and taking off his shirt rather than heading to the bench.
"When Andy came off and went up the tunnel, he was disappointed with the way the game was going, not necessarily for himself, but for the team, and the frustration took him up into the dressing room," Dalglish said.
"We don't have a problem with people showing their desperation or frustration, but we need to channel it better than we have done."
Dalglish also felt frustration was the reason for Reina's red card after an apparent headbutt on Newcastle defender James Perch.
"The frustration and disappointment resulted in the actions Pepe took when he got a deserved red card," Dalglish added.
Sympathy
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew had sympathy for Carroll, but he has backed the former Toon hero to come good.
"I think Andy is a player that needs to have a game-plan that is going to work for him and I think Liverpool have struggled to find that for him," said Pardew.
"When we had him here we were probably a little bit more direct than we are now and he was magnificent. He will be again. It is just a question of getting that balance right.
"It is a very fine line. I felt for Andy today. He is a terrific lad and he is having a tough year but he will come back."
In contrast to the former Toon No.9, current incumbent Papiss Cisse scored both goals to leave Pardew singing his praises.
"On our side of the coin, Cisse was terrific and long may that continue," Pardew added.
"They were two great goals, fantastic finishes, and his all-round performance really was of the highest order. It was probably his best so far.
"His English isn't great. He has only had one lesson since we have been here. But we had Africa day at the training ground on Friday with the food and that probably helped him. We had some curried goat and maybe that was why he was fuelled up."
